Pakistan's air raids on Afghanistan leave several dead, including children

Afghan authorities have claimed that the Pakistani army carried out strikes on three provinces of the country, resulting in 13 deaths, including 11 children, and 14 others injured.

“Last night, the Pakistani military once again violated Afghanistan's airspace and bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika,” wrote spokesperson for Afghanistan’s supreme leader Zabihullah Mujahid on the social media platform X.

Crime
Last night, the Pakistani military once again violated Afghanistan's airspace and bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika.
As a result of these attacks, 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed, while 14 other women
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— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) June 10, 2026

Pakistani authorities have not issued any statement confirming strikes on Afghan territory.

Meanwhile, sources told Afghanistan International that a meeting involving representatives linked to the Taliban and Pakistan has begun in Istanbul.

Key topics under discussion include efforts to contain the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan and counter the activity of ISIS-K (Islamic State – Khorasan Province) in Pakistan.

According to the sources, the two-day meeting is attended by a delegation close to the Taliban administration, led by Afghan politician Jafar Mahdawi. The Pakistani delegation is said to be headed by Mushahid Hussain, a former Pakistani Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

The sources added that Pakistani representatives declined to travel to Kabul for talks with the Taliban, which is why negotiations are taking place in Istanbul under Turkish mediation.

A month earlier, another round of informal talks between Taliban and Pakistani representatives in Türkiye ended without any agreement.

The Taliban had previously rejected Pakistan’s demands regarding the TTP during several rounds of official negotiations held in Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

As part of recent diplomatic contacts, representatives of the Taliban and Pakistan also met in the Chinese city of Urumqi.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated in 2021 when the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. Islamabad accuses the group of harbouring militants from several terrorist organisations that regularly carry out attacks against Pakistan. 

In February 2026, Afghanistan launched a military operation against Pakistan in response to airstrikes. According to the UN, several hundred civilians were killed between January and March 2026 amid the escalation.

By Jeyhun Aghazada